This October, 18 of Brevard’s best restaurants are taking part in FLORIDA TODAY’s third annual Flavor Dining Month. From Oct. 1-31, our Flavor partners will offer three-course, prix fixe dinner menus for $40. To learn more about participating restaurants and to see menus, visit floridatoday.com/flavor.

We asked five questions of Wayne Tolx, general manager at River Rocks in Rockledge.

QUESTION: What inspired you to go into the restaurant business?

ANSWER: I grew up in Cocoa Beach, Florida. My dad knew the owner of Alma's Restaurant. It had been there for over 30 years, and they would ask me to help out. So, I would help out in the dish pit, or being a busser, and I enjoyed it.

I enjoy working as a team, getting something accomplished every day. And it carried on to college, where I worked my way through college. I worked in the business and got to know it a little bit more. And then I had the chance to be in management, and I decided to go with it. I've enjoyed it ever since.

Q. What makes your restaurant unique?

A. It's very unique that it's two different restaurants in one location. We're called The Dock at River Rocks; The Dock is our outside restaurant, which is very casual. Burgers, fish tacos, fresh fish specials.

The inside, which is River Rocks, is an upscale restaurant, which features fresh fish, chef's specials, specialty dishes. Two different menus, two different locations, two different kitchens, but one unique experience.

Q. Describe the cuisine at your restaurant.

A. Fresh fish, fresh ingredients. We make our sauces and our dressings homemade here. We also make our desserts homemade. So everything is handmade in the kitchen, prepped daily, fresh ingredients.

Q. What’s your secret guilty food pleasure?

A. My secret guilty food pleasure is barbecue. I grew up in the South. I love Southern cuisine. I love macaroni and cheese, fried chicken, barbecue. I always go back to that when I want something that will satisfy me while I'm sitting on my couch and watching TV.

Q. What’s a simple dish that everyone should be able to cook?

A. A simple dish that anyone can cook is chicken. You can prepare chicken all different types of ways, from blackened to Parmesan-crusted, to just grilled with fresh veggies. So you're getting a very healthy dish, but very satisfying.